After Twitter proposal goes viral, professional cheerleader off to prom

CROSBY, Texas--Mike Ramirez is a high school football player who spent most of his time on the bench last season and works part-time at a local McDonalds. Caitlyn is a Texans cheerleader whose life is devoted to intense workouts, coaching tumbling classes and studying communications at the University of Houston.

Yet 10,000 retweets later, the two are a prom couple.

For "Big Mike," as he's been known to his friends since his sophomore year at Crosby High School in suburban Houston, it all started as a joke during 3rd period, when Caitlyn followed him on a "Twitter following spree."

"I was all like, 'What if I took a Texans cheerleader to prom?'" Ramirez recalled asking his classmate. "He was like, that would be pretty cool."

So Ramirez sent Caitlyn a message. "If I get 10,000 retweets will you go to prom with me (insert smiley face.) you will get asked in a cute way!"

"Of course I will," responded Caitlyn, who according to Texans' policy isn't allowed to give her last name.

"Alrighttt!" Ramirez exclaimed.

Twenty-seven hours later, the high school senior who had recently broken up with his girlfriend had a date — as well as a lot of semi-envious, semi-genuine "attaboy" tweets from friends and dozens of new Twitter followers.

"It was just as a joke," Ramirez said. "I didn't think I was going to actually get it."

And he really didn't think it would attract attention beyond Crosby, a town of 2,300 people on the outskirts of Houston.

That one Twitter message, though, made Ramirez's prom a bit more than he originally had in mind. Not only are there TV cameras and microphones eager to talk to him about the whole thing, his date was a bit of mystery.

The Texans decided the prom would be a blind date. All Ramirez knew about Caitlyn before they met was that her favorite color is pink and she likes sushi.

The two met Saturday night at Churrascos, an upscale Latin American restaurant, for dinner before prom.

Ramirez arrived first, with his mom, Monica Cortez, and eight friends of his friends.

Then Caitlyn arrived in a limousine, and six other Texans cheerleaders in uniform were at the restaurant to support her.

Ramirez opened the limo door for her, and she stepped out and gave him a hug. They exchanged a corsage and boutonniere.

Journalists were surrounding the limo when it arrived. When asked if there would be a second date, Michael indicated that he was hopeful for one — or even a wedding, he said jokingly.